Automatic sheet stacker device and the like

ABSTRACT

An automatic sheet stacker for converting a continuous flow of sheared sheet metal pieces into predetermined size vertical stacks for further handling comprising a dolly platform having caster wheels with a fixed sidewall and a fixed end wall and a removable and adjustable side disposed on said fixed sidewall and adjustable toward and away from said fixed end wall. The removable and adjustable side wall is further provided with an adjustable guide which is slidable along said removable and adjustable side in a direction toward and away from said fixed sidewall. The fixed end wall is provided with an adjustable guide which is moveable toward and away from said fixed sidewall and slidably disposed on said fixed end wall. The dolly platform is further provided with biasing means or brake means for maintaining the dolly platform in a fixed position until released and moved to another position. The device is further provided with an attachment for stacking very small sheet metal segments.

United States- Patent 3,392,892 7/l968 RainbowetaL. 3,439,605 4/1969 I-Ianley Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Attorney-Herman, Davidson and Berman on said fixed sidewall and adjustable toward and away from.

said fixed end wall. The removable and adjustable side wall is further provided with an adjustable guide which is slidable along said removable and adjustable side in a direction toward and away from said fixed sidewall. The fixed end wall is provided with an adjustable guide which is moveable toward and away from said fixed sidewall and slidably disposed on said fixed end wall. The dolly platform is further provided with biasing means or brake means for maintaining the dolly platform in a fixed position until released and moved to another position. The device is further provided with an attachment for stacking very small sheet metal segments.

PATENIEU JAN 1 9197:

SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 5.

FIG. 6.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic stacking device for packing steel blanks or sheets directly from a power shear onto a skid or pallet, ready for banding and shipping.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dolly platform device having a fixed sidewall and a fixed end wall and an adjustable wall that can be moved toward and away from the fixed end wall with other guide means that can be moved toward and away from the fixed sidewall so that an automatic stacker is provided for receiving a plurality of steel blanks directly from a power shear onto the dolly platform which will double the production of a shear, when the hand method of stacking or packing is used.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an automatic stacking device that is economical and has a low manufacturing cost, in that no electric, air or hydraulic mechanism is used so that it can be easily installed and requires very low or little maintenance.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an automatic stacking dolly platform device that utilizes gravity feed from another machine, such as a shear machine, and which is versatile inthat it can stack any size or gauge material and any amount of stacks of material desired on a single skid or pallet.

It is yet another object of the presentinvention to provide an automatic stacking device for packing steel blanks and the like which adjusts automatically to various high skids or pallets when rough lumber is used, and which can further pack or stack blanks as small as five inches square.

Various other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the automatic stacking device embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of thedolly platform automatic stacker embodied in the present invention;

F IG. 3 is an end view of the automatic stacker shown in FIG. 2, with portions broken away to indicate the biasing brake means incorporated in the invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the automatic stacker device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a stacked pile of :alanks disposed on a pallet and ready to be lifted from the automatic stacker device of the present invention by a fork lift or other material handling device; 7

FIG. 7 is a view of a lift attachment for the automatic stacker device of the present invention when stacking or handling cut segments smaller than 12 inches; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the lift attachment illustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the automatic stacker device of the present invention which is provided with a dolly platform or bottom 12 to the underside of which is secured a plurality of heavy duty caster wheels 14.

One side of the dolly platform 12 is provided with a fixed vertical sidewall 16 and one end of the platform is provided with a fixed end wall 18. The other side and end of the dolly platform 12 is open and has no vertical wall attached thereto.

The dolly platform is provided with a removable and ad justable side or frame 20 which is provided with a hook member 22 adjacent one side thereof, which slides along the upper edge 24 of the fixed sidewall 16. The other side of the adjustable side or frame 20 is provided with an L-shaped tongue member 26 which fits into a rectangular sleeve disposed on top of a vertical member 30 which has on its lower end a slide member 32 which can be slidably moved along a track or guide member 34. The slide member 32 is provided with a lock handle 36 which may be a threaded member which when turned will engage the top of the track or guide member 34 so as to fix the member 30 in a predetermined position after the frame 20 has been moved toward or away from the end wall 18 the desired distance. The lock handle 36 may use other suitable means for locking the slide member 32 in a predetermined fixed position.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the hook member 22 is secured to a vertical member 40 disclosed on the outer side of the fixed wall 16. The member 40 is secured to a horizontal sleeve 42 which slides along a horizontal guide bar 44. The sleeve 42 can be fixed with respect to the horizontal bar 44 by the lock handle 46 after the frame 20 has been moved a predetermined distance from the fixed end wall 18. The lock handle 46 can be of a threaded type so that when it is turned in one direction it will act like a set screw and prevent the sleeve 42 from moving, or the lock handle means may be any other desired type.

Referring to FIG. 1, the automatic stacker device of the present invention is further provided with a pair of vertical adjustable guides generally designated 48 for movement in a direction toward and away from the fixed sidewall 16. One adjustable guide member is disposed on a hook member 220 which extends over the top edge of the fixed end wall 18 and which hook member 22a is substantially identical to the previously described hook member 22. The other guide member 48 is also provided with a hook member 22b, which is substantially identical to the hook member 22a. The vertical adjustable guide members 48 are adapted to be slid along their respective surfaces and to be disposed in a fixed position on guide bars 44a and 44b which are identical to that described in connection with the guide bar 44. The guide member 48 which is disposed on the end wall 18 is also provided with a vertical member 40a and a sleeve member 42a and a handle 4' member 46a, which are identical in construction and function to the members 40, 42 and 46 described in connection with the movement of frame 20 along the wall 16. The guide member 48 is positioned in a predetermined location on the frame 20 by moving the member 40b and the sleeve 42b along the horizontal rod 44b, which parts are identical in construction and operation to the parts 40 and 42 and 44, described in connection with the movement of the frame 20 along the wall 16. The locking handle 46b is also identical in construction to the lock handle 46 already described.

Referring to FIG. 3, the stacker device is provided with two telescoping sleeves 50 adjacent the fixed end wall 18, which are normally forced or biased downwardly by spring members 52 so that the sleeves 50 engage the surface upon which the caster wheels 14 roll, in order to maintain the device in a fixed position after it has been moved. Pivoted levers 54 are provided for moving the sleeves upwardly against the force of the springs 52 in order to move the stacker device to a different position and to move the bottom of the sleeves 50 out of contact with the ground or surface upon which the device is located. The levers 54 have their ends which move the sleeves 50 extending through the slots 56 and the tubes 58 in which the sleeves 50 telescope. The levers 54 are provided with any suitable lug means 60 for maintaining the levers 54 in the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, to maintain the telescoping sleeves 50 in an upward position when desired.

In operation, it is apparent that .the automatic stacker device can be readily adjusted for receiving a stack of steel blanks and can be adjusted so as to receive a particular size of blanks by moving the frame 20 toward or away from the end wall 18 the proper distance and by adjusting the guides 48 toward and away from the sidewall 16 the proper distance to receive the stacks.

Referring to the lift attachment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, this lift attachment is provided to handle cut segments smaller than 12 inches which cannot be stacked successfully in a conventional manner. The lift attachment consists of a jack 62 with a pair of prongs or forks 64 disposed in sleeves 66 to receive blanks thereon. The jack 62 is a conventional automobile-type jack, although it may be of another type if desired.

The jack has a rack 68 and a socket 70 for receiving an elevating lever and a lift assembly 72 which moves up and down the rack 68 as the lever is operated, and carries the forks 64 therewith. The lift attachment is removably connected to the frame and can be readily inserted into the member 40b. as seen in FIG. 7, which normally carries the adjustable guide member 48. The lift attachment is lowered to accommodate more blanks. The frame 20 is moved very close to the endwall l8 and the lift attachment is moved so that its forks 64 are closely adjacent the fixed wall 16 when it is desired to receive or stack a plurality of segments smaller than l2 inches. As the segments accumulate on top of the forks. the lift is lowered to accommodate more. When the desired amount is reached. the lift is completely lowered to the pallet, and the forks are removed by a tool allowing segments to be placed on the pallet. Operation is repeated as desired or until the pallet is completed.

Thus, from the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention provides an automatic stacker device which can be very easily adjusted to accommodate the stacking of various sizes of steel blanks and further provides a device that g has a lift attachment for receiving very small segments to be v appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A stacking device for sheet material comprising: a flat dolly platform having a plurality of swivel caster wheels thereon; a first substantially vertical sidewall extending along one side of the platform and a first substantially vertical end wall extending along one end of said platform; a movable frame disposed on said platform to move in a direction toward and away from said end wall; a pair of substantially vertical horizontally adjustable guide members mounted on said frame and end wall respectively; for movement toward and away from said sidewall; and brake means extending below said platform for preventing movement of said device after it has been moved to a predetermined location.

24 The device of claim I wherein-said frame extends transversely of said platform. and said sidewall has a slide bar disposed therein and said frame has a hook assembly adapted to slide along said bar to adjust the distance of said frame from said end wall.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said frame has a parallel slide bar, and a hook assembly is provided for sliding along said frame bar and one of said adjustable guide members is detachably connected to the frame hook assembly for movement toward said sidewall.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said end wall has a parallel slide bar, and a hook assembly is provided for sliding along said end wall slide bar and the other of said adjustable guide member is detachably connected to said end wall slide bar for movement toward and away from said sidewall.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein lock handle means are provided for locking their respective hook assembly along their respective slide bar at a predetermined location.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said brake means comprises telescoping tube members with a biasing means normally urging one of said tube members in downward position so as to bear against the floor on which said device is disposed. and handle means for lifting said one tube member upwardly to release said brake means.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein detachable lift means are provided for handling small segments including fork means.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said detachable lift means includes a vertical rack and socket means for receiving an elevating handle, and a lift assembly operatively connected to said rack assembly for moving up and down said rack, and said fork means includes spaced horizontal prongs secured to said lift assembly. 

1. A stacking device for sheet material comprising: a flat dolly platform having a plurality of swivel caster wheels thereon; a first substantially vertical sidewall extending along one side of the platform and a first substantially vertical end wall extending along one end of said platform; a movable frame dispOsed on said platform to move in a direction toward and away from said end wall; a pair of substantially vertical horizontally adjustable guide members mounted on said frame and end wall respectively; for movement toward and away from said sidewall; and brake means extending below said platform for preventing movement of said device after it has been moved to a predetermined location.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said frame extends transversely of said platform, and said sidewall has a slide bar disposed therein and said frame has a hook assembly adapted to slide along said bar to adjust the distance of said frame from said end wall.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said frame has a parallel slide bar, and a hook assembly is provided for sliding along said frame bar and one of said adjustable guide members is detachably connected to the frame hook assembly for movement toward said sidewall.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said end wall has a parallel slide bar, and a hook assembly is provided for sliding along said end wall slide bar and the other of said adjustable guide member is detachably connected to said end wall slide bar for movement toward and away from said sidewall.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein lock handle means are provided for locking their respective hook assembly along their respective slide bar at a predetermined location.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said brake means comprises telescoping tube members with a biasing means normally urging one of said tube members in downward position so as to bear against the floor on which said device is disposed, and handle means for lifting said one tube member upwardly to release said brake means.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein detachable lift means are provided for handling small segments including fork means.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said detachable lift means includes a vertical rack and socket means for receiving an elevating handle, and a lift assembly operatively connected to said rack assembly for moving up and down said rack, and said fork means includes spaced horizontal prongs secured to said lift assembly. 